Elias Rodriguez, a 30-year-old man, has been identified as the prime suspect in the murder of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C. The incident occurred Wednesday night in front of the Jewish Museum during an event organized by the American Jewish Committee.
Rodriguez, a Chicago resident, opened fire on the victims near the museum in an attack that shocked the international community.
According to Washington Police Chief Pamela Smith, the man was seen pacing near the museum before the shooting. At one point, he approached a group of four people leaving the event and, without saying a word, shot the two Israeli employees at point-blank range.
After the attack, the suspect entered the museum and was detained by security personnel. “Upon being arrested, he began shouting ‘Free Palestine, Free Palestine,’” Smith stated at a press conference.
While the investigation is still underway, given that Rodriguez expressed support for the Palestinian cause during his arrest, the main hypotheses revolve around the possibility that the suspect may have ties to political movements or activists opposed to Israel. On social media, for example, some users linked him to the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), a far-left Marxist and pro-Palestine group in the United States.
Local police recovered a weapon at the crime scene and confirmed that Elias Rodriguez had no criminal record or prior contact with authorities. The FBI, which assumed leadership of the investigation, reported that it is analyzing the suspect’s criminal record in coordination with a joint counterterrorism unit.
Although the exact motivations for the attack are still unknown, authorities have indicated that Rodriguez expressed support for the Palestinian cause during his arrest, leading some speculation about possible ties to political movements or activists. activists who oppose Israeli policies.
